13 Cars 3 Fun Facts to Know Before You See It On BluRay… #Cars3BluRay

Earlier this year, I had a chance to attend the early press dates for the movie Cars 3 and learned a ton about the making of the film, the history of racing, Pixar’s Production Pipeline, and more from Director Brian Fee and Producers Andrea Warren and Kevin Reher.

Cars 3 is now on Blu Ray and in addition to the action packed film we all loved, viewers can also enjoy several fun bonus extras – some of which give you a glimpse of what I experienced in getting a behind the scenes look along with the filmmakers and story team of the film.  You’ll see how the real world race training influenced the filmakers, follow along Cristela Alonzo’s journey to making the character of Cruz what she was, some of the ultra cool scenes that just didn’t make the final cut into the movie, and more.  

One bonus feature that’s so near and dear to me is the inclusion of the short film, LOU. If you saw this in theaters, you remember the cute little short about the kids in the playground and lost and found box that preceded the film. I was such a heartwarming clip and I’m glad it has also been included in the BluRay version.  

Lastly, Miss Fritters Racing Skool is a super fun mini-movie only available on BluRay. If you remember her from the film, you’ll understand why we just needed a little more of her! 

But… before you watch Cars 3 on BluRay, here are some really fun facts to check out that might get you looking at the movie just a little bit differently…

13 Cars 3 Fun Facts

1. Lightning McQueen made his rookie debut in “Cars” in 2006; more than a decade has passed since he was a young superstar.
2. Filmmakers added four characters to the film that were inspired by real NASCAR legends, Junior Johnson, Louise Smith, Wendell Scott, and Henry “Smokey” Yunick.
   

   MEET THE LEGENDS — Lightning McQueen comes hood to hood with a group of characters who represent the roots of stock car racing—and provide a link to Lightning’s late coach and mentor, Doc Hudson. From left: River Scott (voice of Isiah Whitlock Jr.), Junior “Midnight” Moon (voice of Robert Glenn “Junior” Johnson), Smokey (voice of Chris Cooper), Louise “Barnstormer” Nash (voice of Margo Martindale), and Lightning himself (voice of Owen Wilson).  ©2017 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

    

3. Bubba Wallace, No. 6, won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway in 2013, and inspired and voices next-gen stock car racer Bubba Wheelhouse in “Cars 3.”
4. Lightning McQueen has five Piston-Cup wins under his hood as “Cars 3” gets underway.
5. Lightning McQueen learns early in the film that next-gen racer Jackson Storm races at speeds pushing 207 mph. And that might not even be his fastest.
6. Junior Johnson, NASCAR driver from the 1950s-60s who inspired “Cars 3” character Junior “Midnight” Moon, won 50 NASCAR races before retiring in 1966.
7. Lightning McQueen sports five distinct looks in “Cars 3,” including one that pays homage to his original pait, a primer look he gets following the devastating crash, a custom wrap ordered by Sterling, and more.
8. The dramatic, slow-motion crash scene in which Lightning McQueen hits a wall and rolls several times takes 24 seconds.
9. Lightning McQueen tops out at a speed of 198 miles per hour on his last lap with Cruz Ramirez on Fireball Beach.
10. While the clouds library for “Cars 3” features thousands of cloud pieces, 85 percent of the clouds in “Cars 3” came from the cloud library for “The Good Dinosaur.”
11. FOX Sports’ lead NASCAR announcer Mike Joy has called 38 DAYTONA 500s and lends his voice to on-the-spot radio talk show host Mike Joyride in the movie.
12. Artists created more than 80,000 storyboards during the production of the movie. Just 10,102 made it into the final sequences.
13. Artists, designers and technicians at Pixar Animation Studios were able to install 30,000 lights at the Florida Speedway for the final race of the film. They all work.

ROAD TO VICTORY — When faced with a new generation of racers who threaten to derail his career, Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) teams up with tech-savvy, unconventional trainer Cruz Ramirez (voice of Cristela Alonzo) to find his way back to the top. ©2017 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

See also: Free Cars 3 Activity Sheets for Kids – Build your own race course and more!